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Oceans and fisheries
News announcement26 February 2019Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

The Challenges of Unexploded Munitions in the Sea

On 20 February in Brussels, the European Commission, in cooperation with the European External Action Service, organised a Colloquium on the Challenges of Unexploded Munitions in the Sea.

Unexploded munition dumped on the seabed poses an increasing concern all around the world. In Europe, this problem is particularly felt in the Adriatic-Ionian, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The sunken munitions pose growing safety, security and environmental risks, especially as they often contain chemical agents like sulphur mustard, nerve gas and lewisite. Leakage could pose a threat to marine ecosystems and, possibly, human health.

Unexploded munition can also be a barrier to blue economy opportunities, deterring or blocking the development of blue activities in dumping sites.

The event gathered representatives from Member States, regional and international organizations, researchers and other relevant stakeholders.

More information

Map with the dumped munitions in EU waters (European Atlas of the Seas)

Presentations

Details

Publication date
26 February 2019
Author
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries